What an honor, privilege and surprise it was to accompany Puerto Rico’s Governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, along the entire parade route at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in my native New York City today! It was also very inspiring to see New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, in attendance and in his culturally appropriate attire!

I’ll have much more to share after I get a good night’s rest because I wasn’t expecting a three mile hike today at a sprite pace (and, without breaks the whole way!) and am happily exhausted! NEWYORICANGIRL 🙂

Order NEWYORICANGIRL’s new book! I want to share with you my gritty first novel filled with many true stories of trauma, recovery and triumph. As a survivor of childhood rape, forced adoption, painful assimilation and 9/11, I’m sharing my survivor’s story so I can enlighten and educate others. Click the “MY BOOK” link above to order your copy today. Thanks for your support!

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Huff Post Latino Voices: “Where’s the Love for Puerto Rico?” An open letter to Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Rosie Perez: This Boricua LOVES all of you and is so proud of your success. BUT, I’m shocked not to have heard from any of you regarding the VERY dire situation in Puerto Rico. […]

The Death & Resurrection of my Spanish Name I’ve rarely spoken in public about the trauma I suffered when I was forcibly adopted at the age of 14. It broke my heart and stung like hell to learn that my biological father had signed me away; giving in to the relentless two year pursuit of […]

Hispanic Heritage Month? Who cares? I do, and you should too! Every year, as HHM begins on September 15th, I brace myself for the underwhelming reaction that many people, organizations and educational institutions have. Compared to the deluge of support for Black History Month every February, what do we Latinos get every September? Nada. I’m […]

The current crisis in my beloved Puerto Rico is playing out like that scene in “West Side Story,” the one where the Sharks (the migrated Puerto Ricans begging to be treated fairly) and the Jets (in this case the U.S. Congress, President Obama, the hedge fund vultures and dispassionate economists) are preparing to rumble. At […]